Welcome to Five Minute Zen. The mission is simple – to
assist busy beings who may be preoccupied or overwhelmed while on their
journey to balance, bliss and a healthy meal now and again. Whether you’re looking to reduce
stress, alleviate sorrow, find balance or improve the quality of your life
through self care, we’re here to assist. Come on in, relax and find tips,
tricks, recipes and so much more.

Whether you’re looking to increase your healthy hydration or simply want to do a little something special next time you have people over, infused water is the way to go. Not only is it healthy and delicious, it’s easy to fix and makes for a beautiful impression.

This time of year it can seem that everyone you know is living the good life. As you read about Beth’s recent wedding or John’s new house in the Hills, as you look at pictures from Ted’s winter vacation in Vail or your cousin’s gorgeous baby, DON’T compare yourself.

With the holidays upon us, it seems road trip season is here again. Many of us want to get somewhere, while others are waiting for people to get to us. As someone who loves a good road trip (I mean there’s a reason I’ve put almost 200,000 miles on my car in just five years), I know the importance of self care on the road. Here are few things I learned on my most recent 6,000-mile highway to zen.

Meditation can seem pretty granola. And to some lovely ladies, it can seem far more difficult than pouring a glass of wine or reaching for the remote. Now trust me, I totally believe that wine and reality television have their place.

Consider the blistering pace of your own typical day: what calls you rise in the morning? We all hope for a kiss of sunlight, peeking through the gap of our curtains...gently moving us into the new day. But more than likely, we're jarred out of sleep by an alarm, a phone, another beckoning electronic need.

Want to raise your level of joy, Zen and all around feelgoodness? Do a little something-something nice for someone. If experience is telling, not only will the person feel better, but so will you. Woo hoo! Extra benefit. Ready to change your corner of the world with a simple two-step process? Great – Let the good deeds commence!

Looking for more happiness? I mean, who’s not, right? Recent studies have shown that how much gratitude you show directly effects your happiness level. Here is your assignment for the day: Call, visit, write, text or send smoke signals to your significant other, family member, former teacher or friend today. Yes, TODAY! Let them know how you feel about them, how they make your life richer, how much sun they bring to your days.

Perhaps you’re like many and spend a good portion of your life in an office.Maybe you love your job. Perhaps you dream of escaping the cubicle nation. Whatever the case, consider taking a few steps to increase your quality of life and rock your work Zen by tweaking your office space.

There are as many paths to spiritual growth as there are people. Perhaps you mediate, visit ashrams or attend workshops as often as a woodchuck chucks wood. Whether you prefer to load your books on your iPhone to listen to during your commute or you like the tactile sensation of flipping pages as the epiphanies tumble from the page, reading can bring us closer to bliss or impart life-changing knowledge.

A poem by Sandra J. Payne on spreading your wings. Sandra is an award-winning writer/filmmaker and serves on the advisory council of the nonprofit charity news site (it) magazine. Originally from Alaska, she started her Hollywood career as a staff writer for "Barney & Friends." Her favorite organic food is raspberries.

There are times when the only thing that feels exactly right is complete decadence. Sometimes, fancy feels good at a time when effort doesn’t. Just because you’re exhausted, over extended or focusing other priorities doesn’t mean you have to eat a turkey sandwich you bought at the gas station on your way home. In fact, it probably means just the opposite. With a little foresight and a few minutes prep, you can feed your soul, and your body, well.

Isn’t it time to let technology lift you up instead of drag
you down? Without doubt, technology plays a major role in our busy lives today.
Sometimes it connects us to the ones we love; sometimes it tears us away. It
may be time you turned the tables and used technology to connect with yourself.
Here are a few of the apps that have made my life better:

You know what provides joy and inspiration and energy? Food!
That’s right, food. It’s not the enemy. It’s our friend. It keeps us alive. It
brings us together. So here’s what I want you to do. I want you to go straight
to the kitchen, the grocery, the specialty store or that new bakery you’ve only
read about. Your goal? To tantalize your taste buds and indulge in flavors.
Treat yourself.

When you’re looking to sooth your weary, perhaps ruffled soul, surround
yourself with soft. Consider splurging on a pair of cashmere socks or scarf.
Whatever you choose to do, focus on wearing soft, comfortable clothes made of
natural fibers such as soft cotton or decadent bamboo or timeless silk.